Friends and Family,
I am alive and well in Seoul, South Korea! Right now it’s 10:30 AM, and I’m in a PC Bang (internet cafe) with about 3 other people and a lot of cigarette smoke.
Unfortunately, I can’t post pictures at this time, but allow me to recap the first few days here:
Day 1+2: Travel and Family Reunion, Part 1
I met Dad, Stepmom, and Grandma at San Francisco airport, where our connecting flights would converge for us to take the flight over the Pacific together. Unfortunately, the other party’s flight from Chicago was delayed, which led to a frantic dash through the airport to catch the flight and the luggage to miss the flight.
The long haul went reasonably smoothly, and by about 8 PM on April 24th we had finally made it to the Marriott Hotel in the Gangnam neighborhood of Seoul. Shortly after our arrival was the first of what will surely be several family reunions during this trip. The roster:
- Uncle
- Aunt
- Cousin
- Cousin’s husband
- Their 2 year old daughter (SO CUTE, can’t wait to get the pictures up).
- My cousin’s wife (but not that cousin)
Four years ago, during my previous trip to Seoul, I wrote about my first interaction with the Aunt and Uncle and how bewildering it is to decipher familial relations across distance and language barriers. Most of my thoughts still remain the same from them: so close, yet so distant.
Day 3: My dad and stepmom reunite with old friends, as do I.
Lunch with dad’s old college friend, then a walk through Chunggyechung, an artificial stream through downtown Seoul that was restored after years of neglect and pollution. I briefly showed my face to my stepmom’s friends, then broke free for dinner with my two college friends, Justin and Nana, who are teaching here in Seoul. Read their fascinating and aptly-titled blog, “School of ROK,” here.
Initial Thoughts:
I will certainly write more in detail about all the things running through my head later, but for now, here are my most important take aways after only 1 full day in the country:
- Holy crap, there are a lot of American chain stores here. This was largely the case 4 years ago when I was last here, but for some reason, it never fails to amaze me to see the long shadow of American consumer culture cast overseas. In the mall food court, I was surrounded by a Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Smoothie King, Baskin Robins, Haagen Dasz, Pizza Hut, and Outback Steakhouse. Of course, there were plenty of local Korean establishments in the area, but the concentration of western fast food joints in one place was astounding.
- My Korean still sucks. Slightly better than when I was here last time, but it’s still hard to engage in substantive conversations beyond the basics (“I live in New York City and work for the New York City gov’t, no I’m not married, etc.”).
- This may sound blase, but truthfully, I keep thinking to myself, “This is just like K-Town in New York City…but without the non-Korean people.” Don’t get me wrong, I am very glad to be here, and I am soaking up all the uniqueness of this place as possible, but much of the wonder and culture shock from my first visit is largely absent.
That’s all for this first dispatch from the Motherland. Hopefully I’ll be able to upload pictures soon, but until then, just imagine this scene:
Lots of Korean People. Buildings. Cars.
That’s what it’s like here! Hope all is well back in the states. I’ll write more when I get the chance.
